The In’s and Out’s

AP Writing

What readers are looking for….

• Connect the purpose (thesis) of your essay to the "big picture."

• This technique can be especially useful in the conclusion of your essay.

• Don't just restate your thesis!

Connect…

• Answer the prompt with creativity!

• Everyone else is likely answering the prompt with the same approach.

• Take a risk, and be original!•  Most AP scorers will reward you

for not putting them to sleep with a boring yet "safe" essay.

Be original….

• Use short sentences.• Mix those in with longer

sentences to add variety and sophistication to your writing.

Vary your sentence structure…

• Which literary devices did the author use?

• Why did he use these particular literary devices?

• The more specific you are, the more credibility you'll get from the AP scorer.

Be specific…

Active voice is more direct and powerful than passive voice.

•Good: The author used alliteration to emphasize his point.

•Bad: Alliteration was used by the author to emphasize his point.

Avoid passive voice…

The Thesis Statement…

• Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.

• Is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

• Directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.

• Makes a claim that others might dispute.

• Is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader.

• The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

What is a thesis statement…

In The Box Man, by Barbara Lazear Ascher, the protagonist reveals that a life of solitude need not always be lonely. Though the Box Man lives a life of solitude as a homeless wanderer, Ascher describes his “grand design” and “grandmotherly finger licking” to convince readers that their assumptions about homeless people are unfounded – and that they can live a dignified life. By describing the Box Man as “dignified” and “at ease”, Ascher paints a vivid picture of a man who chose a life a comfort and solitude and defeated loneliness by becoming his own friend.

Examples: What is the thesis?

In Upon the Burning of Our House, Anne Bradstreet ponders her unfortunate circumstances and appreciates that it was God’s will that her house burned to the ground. Bradstreet believed that every misfortune she encountered served to remind her of God’s will – in this case, she was reminded that “All is vanity” – a Biblical allusion meaning that everything in life is futile and the only worthy goal is entry into heaven. Bradstreet’s attitude is further revealed when she says “The world no longer let me love, / My hope and treasure lies above.” Bradstreet clearly feels that worldly life is fruitless; her sole concern is God.

Examples: What is the thesis?

In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck characterize the protagonist, Tom Joad, as a morally conscious person who stands up against evil. The image of Tom’s mother “slow with weariness” sitting and scraping potatoes affects Tom very much – so much that he is willing to give his life to rebel against the people who seek to harm his family. Through the use of imagery and diction, Steinbeck reveals Tom’s noble conscious and characterizes him as a rebellious – albeit rash – young man.

Examples: What is the thesis?

In the His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman, the setting is an essentialelement in the development and outcome of the plot in more ways than one. The protagonist, 11-year old Lyra Belacqua, lives in the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford growing up as an orphan among the old scholars. Her cheerful existence consisted of playing on the rooftops of the college and “waging war” with the local children. This contrasts sharply with the bright and exciting future she soon experiences after she escapes from the drudgery of college life. After escaping, Lyra begins a grand adventure, journeying to the north to meet armored bears, witches, and gyptians. The initial setting is important to the development of the plot because Lyra’s future resourcefulness and quick-wittedness in difficult situations were fine-tuned during the numerous challenges she faced as a child while fighting “wars” with the other local children. In addition, by understanding Lyra’s humble background, the reader can appreciate her future accomplishments.

Examples: What is the thesis?

Using Evidence in Writing…

Evidence in Writing…

Excerpt ExplainCite the evidence. If a quotation, introduce it at the beginning of your sentence.

ExplainProvide an explanation of the significance of the Evidence and reveal how the evidence supports your idea.

ExposeAfter clearly expressing an idea, introduce the evidence and provide context.

Lady Macbeth wants power, and through her control of Macbeth, tries to achieve her goal without experiencing guilt. When Macbeth—witnessing the blood on his own hands—feels remorse for Duncan’s murder, Lady Macbeth chastises him by saying, “A little water clears us of this deed. / How easy it is then!” (2.2.66.67). Although her “hands are of [his] colour” (2.2.63) because she has framed the guards, she does not share Macbeth’s intense guilt since she has avoided committing murder herself.

Example #1

In As I Lay Dying, Cash’s acts of devotion reveal that love, a verb more than a noun, is selfless. Before her death, he toiled to make his mother’s life less burdensome, completing Jewel’s chores—“work that pa still thought Jewel was doing and that ma thought Dewey Dell was doing” (119)—without recognition. As Addie dies, Cash labors unceasingly in the rain, “soaked, scrawny, and tireless” (69), to construct a coffin that will provide a fitting burial for his mother. Cash functions without concern for himself and conveys the theme that love involves action instead of words.

Example #2

Five Ways to Use a Quotation in Literary Analysis...

• Analyze a word and/or image from the quotation.

• Explain how the word’s denotation and connotation reveal or reinforce the meaning of the passage.

• Explain how the image’s sensory details reveal or reinforce the point the quotation illustrates.

First Way…

Nick looks back on Gatsby’s life and says, “it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams” (Fitzgerald 6). The use of the word “preyed” indicates Nick sees Gatsby as being under attack and helpless. The “dust” that surrounds Gatsby prevents him from being seen for what he really is.

Example #1

• Explain how the information in the quotation relates to a significant action, characterization, or idea from the text.

• You are pointing out an important connection the reader might not have noticed.

Second Way…

Nick notes Gatsby’s displays in front of Daisy: “He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them one by one before us…” (Fitzgerald 97). With this action, Gatsby proves successful in impressing Daisy with his possessions. The beauty that Daisy sees in a pile of shirts shows the value she places on wealth.

Example #2

• Sometimes what a quotation doesn’t say is more important than its surface details.

• Explain how the information the quotation lacks relates to a significant action, characterization, or idea from the text.

Third Way…

In Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman describes a colleague’s death and says, “when he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral” (Miller 81). Loman aspires to be like that salesmen, but fails to see, however, the negative parts of that man’s life. When Willy dies on the job, no family or friends attend his funeral, only business acquaintances.

Example #3

Discuss the symbolism of an object mentioned in the quotation.

Fourth Way…

In describing Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy, Nick says, “he had committed himself to the following of a grail” (Fitzgerald 156). Much like the followers of the holy grail, Gatsby desperately searches for Daisy. Much like the followers of the grail, Gatsby ends up dying trying to attain his magic cup (Daisy) to fill the emotional void in his life.

Example #4

• Explain the irony of the quotation.

• Discuss both the literal level of the quotation, and its ironic implications.

Fifth Way…

Gatsby’s funeral is a great disappointment: “The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 182). Gatsby threw enormous parties with multitudes of people, but ironically not one of those people showed up at his funeral. In achieving the American Dream, Gatsby had forfeited true friends.

Example #5